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The Pros and Cons of the BETA Reader |
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The Problem: BETA readers are very nice to have around, aren't they? Their vigilance keeps our stories in-line and in-shape but asking someone to BETA your story is not always the best course of action to take, especially if you're a very new beginner. I say this because BETAs are like cigarettes--one you start using 'em it gets harder and harder to stop. Not all BETA use is bad, however. It's just that there are times when they should be used and when they shouldn't. The uses of the BETA reader: For those who may be asking, "What the heck is a BETA?" I will explain. A BETA, or BETA reader, is someone who looks over someone's fic/chapters before anyone else and helps them to correct their mistakes before the author posts it. It's a job not meant for the faint of heart and requires great knowledge in grammar and spelling. Sounds great, right? Wrong! The evils of the BETA reader: A BETA is not always reliable. If you expect perfection you will never attain it because even BETAs make mistakes sometimes. Even having an incredibly good BETA is a waste if they don't have time to work with you on your story. Some BETAs just fix up your errors and tell you to post your revised work rather than explaining why they changed and edited certain areas of your fanfic. If you let them a BETA could even edit your story so much it won't even look like you had written it. Basically, what makes a good BETA is someone who is dependable, with good knowledge and with the ability to communicate with you and work on the problems with your story. The Solution: I do not recommend BETA readers for beginning writers unless they know one that can be very communicative. Beginning writers need to see their mistakes and understand them. A beginner can also fall into the habit of always relying on just their BETA instead of editing a story themselves. Without working on their own grammar and spelling a beginner will never move past the "rookie writer" stage. I suggest BETAs to be more of an intermediate writer's tool. Someone with enough confidence to see their mistakes but is still willing to see if they missed anything would be best. Experts can also use a BETA but I think they would rather write alone. |